Guest Uploads

Got a wedding, reunion, client shoot, or party where everyone has photos on their phone? Guest Uploads lets people add photos and videos to your album with a link or QR code. They do not need an ImageEvent account or an app. Everything lands in one album next to your own files—you control approval, a welcome message, and whether new uploads are paused.

At a glance:

Open Guest Upload on the Album Bar while signed in (Enhanced layout).
Share an upload link or QR so guests can contribute; optionally a Private Link so they can browse.
Choose Approve first or Show right away; pause anytime without deleting links.
Optional TV slideshow for a screen at the event, with a QR in the corner to upload.

What Guest Uploads does
Guest Uploads is for pooling candid shots from many people into one album you own. Typical uses:

Wedding or party tables with a printed QR so guests add phone photos during the event
Family reunions and school events where each household contributes
Client or teammate shoots where others add selects without signing into your account

You remain the album owner. Guests never get your password or full-site access. Guest photos can show the guest’s name under the picture when you ask for a name (credited as From that name).

Important: Guest Uploads works with the Enhanced layout. Set Default layout to Enhanced under Global Settings if you still use Original. Personal albums are not for sharing workflows—use Shared, Hidden, or Gallery as appropriate (Privacy & security).

Guest Upload vs your own uploads

You upload with Easy Upload, Mega Upload, or FTP when the files are on your computer or phone as the owner.
Guests upload with Guest Upload when other people should add files using a link or QR—no account required.
Guests browse with a Private Link (or the Private links tab on the Guest Upload page). From a Private Link album view they can also use Add photos when Guest Upload is enabled.

Anyone who has an upload link can upload to that album until you turn the link off or pause Taking uploads. Share upload links only with people you trust, or plan a deadline and turn links off afterward.

Anything else to know:

Guest Uploads can be used on albums that also have a guest password or a Private Link for viewing. Uploading and browsing are separate links.
Waiting uploads (Approve first) show on your Home page and folder listings as well as on the Album Bar, so you do not have to open Guest Upload to notice them.
Your plan’s file count and size limits still apply to guest files. See formats and limits.
After the event, turn off upload and TV links (and optionally pause Taking uploads) so old QR codes on printed cards stop accepting new files.

The Guest Upload page
Open the album and click Guest Upload on the Album Bar. The page has four sections:

Upload links — Link or QR for guests to add photos and videos. Status pill may show Taking uploads, Paused, Needs an upload link, or Not set up yet.
Private links — Unlisted album links so guests can browse (and use Add photos when Guest Upload is on).
TV slideshow — Full-screen display link for a TV or spare laptop.
Settings — Approval mode, Taking uploads (pause), welcome message, and name options. These settings apply to every upload link for this album.

If uploads are waiting for approval, a banner at the top offers Review uploads.

Create an upload link or QR code

Open the album and click Guest Upload on the Album Bar.
If you have not set up Guest Upload yet, open Settings first. Choose Approve first or Show right away (neither is preselected — you must pick one), leave Taking uploads checked, then click Save & enable (or Save settings). You must save Settings once before you can create an upload link.
Go to Upload links and click Create upload link. You get a URL (often under /u/) and a QR code right away.
Use Share link, Copy link, or Download QR. Send the link by text or email, or print the QR on a sign, card, or invitation.
Guests open the link in a browser on a phone, tablet, or computer, enter a name if you require one, and choose photos and videos.

You can create more than one upload link (for example, one per table or group). Each link shows chips for Opens and Uploads (and a short code when present). Use Turn off to stop that link without deleting it, or Delete to remove it permanently. Create another adds a separate upload link with its own stats.

Approval, welcome message, and pause
On the Guest Upload page, open Settings. These options control every upload link for this album:

When a guest uploads
- Approve first — You review each upload before it appears. ImageEvent emails your account address when new ones are waiting.
- Show right away — Photos and videos join the album after processing (no review queue).
Taking uploads — Uncheck to pause new uploads without deleting your links. The status pill shows Paused. Turn it back on when you are ready. Pausing is different from turning off one link: pause stops all guest uploads for the album; Turn off stops only that URL.
Ask guests for their name (under Welcome message & name)
- Required — credit as From name under guest photos
- Optional — guests may skip the name
Welcome line on the upload page — a short message guests see when they open the upload link (up to about 160 characters).

What guests see when they upload
Guests open the upload link in a normal browser. They may see your welcome line and a name field. They pick photos and videos and upload. They do not sign into your account and do not get owner tools.

The upload link is for contributing. Viewing the finished album is separate: send a Private Link (or create one on the Guest Upload Private links tab) if they should browse the album and use Add photos from there.

Tip: To check ordinary album/folder guest UI, use View as Guest. For a Private Link (especially with a password), open it in a private/incognito window where you are signed out—View as Guest still leaves you logged in as owner.

Approve or reject waiting uploads
When Approve first is on and uploads are waiting:

The Album Bar shows Approve with a count. Waiting uploads also appear on your Home page and folder listings. From Guest Upload you can click Review uploads.
Select photos, or use Select all.
Click Approve selected or Reject selected. Approve all and Reject all act on the whole list.

Approved items join the album. Rejected items are removed. ImageEvent emails your account address when new uploads wait, and again daily until you clear them. Guests who asked for email can get a note the first time any of their photos are approved. Each guest photo can show who it is from under the picture when you require a name.

TV slideshow
A TV link plays the album full screen (photos and videos) with a QR code in the corner so people in the room can upload. The display checks for new photos about every 10 seconds, so guest uploads can appear while the event is still going.

On Guest Upload, open TV slideshow.
Use Preview here while signed in to check the loop on your computer (opens in a new tab while you are logged in).
Create a TV link if you do not have one. Copy or share the URL and open it on a TV or spare laptop that is not signed in to your account. The display link needs no login—use an unsigned screen so guests do not see owner tools.
Optional: Download QR for the TV link itself.

Use Create another for a second TV link. Turn off or Delete a link when the event is over.

Private links so guests can browse
The Guest Upload page includes a Private links tab so you can create unlisted browse links for the same album without leaving Guest Upload. Labels are only visible to you. Optional password and downloads settings work like the main Private Links page.

Guests who open a Private Link see the album in the browser—no ImageEvent account needed. When Guest Upload is on, they can also use Add photos from that view.

Full Private Link help (folder and Home links, Email Album / Invite Friends, turn off / delete): Private Links.

Common setups (wedding, client, party TV)

Wedding or party tables — Save Settings with Show right away (or Approve first if you want to moderate). Create an upload link, Download QR, print cards for tables. Optionally create a Private Link so guests can browse during the night. Add a TV link on a lobby screen.
Client delivery with review — Use Approve first, require a name, send the upload link only to the client team. Review from Approve on the Album Bar. Send a separate Private Link (password on) for viewing finals.
Live event TV — Preview the slideshow on your laptop, then open the TV link on an unsigned display. Keep Taking uploads on; new guest photos refresh into the loop about every 10 seconds. Turn the TV link off when the event ends.

Requirements and troubleshooting
If something fails, check these in order:

Enhanced layout — Guest Uploads requires Enhanced. Set it in Global Settings.
Settings saved? — You must save Settings once before the first upload link.
Paused? — Status pill Paused means Taking uploads is off. Turn it back on in Settings.
Link off? — An upload or TV link can show an off chip. Use Turn on, or create a new link.
Personal album? — Switch to Shared, Hidden, or Gallery if you intend to share.
Approve email in spam? — Check the inbox for your account email address; digests also send daily while items wait.
Processing delay — Large videos may take a few minutes after upload before they appear or wait for approval.

Related: owner uploads, Album Bar, file formats and limits, sharing troubleshooting.

Guest Uploads FAQ

Do guests need an ImageEvent account? No. They use a browser only—phone, tablet, or computer.
Does the upload link also let them browse the album? The upload page is for contributing. Send a Private Link (or use the Private links tab) for browsing. From a Private Link view they can also use Add photos when Guest Upload is on.
Pause vs Turn off? Pause (Taking uploads off) stops all new guest uploads for the album but keeps your links. Turn off stops one specific upload, Private, or TV URL. Delete removes that link permanently.
Can guests upload RAW / huge video? Guests use the browser uploader with common photo and video types. Owner RAW and higher limits depend on your plan—see file formats.
Can I have one link per group? Yes—Create another upload link (and separate Private Links with labels like “Bridal party”). Each upload link has its own Opens and Uploads counts.
How do I stop an old email or printed QR? Turn that upload or TV link off (or delete it). Create a new link if you still need one. Pausing Taking uploads also blocks new uploads on every link without deleting them.
Why don’t I see Guest Upload on the Album Bar? Confirm you are signed in as the owner, the album is not Personal-only for sharing, and Default layout is Enhanced.
Where do waiting uploads appear? Album Bar Approve (with count), Guest Upload Review uploads, and chips/notices on Home and folder listings.
Will guests get an email when I approve? Guests who asked for email can get a note the first time any of their photos are approved. You get email when new uploads wait, and a daily reminder while items remain.